Every presidential election is said to have an "October surprise" that will change the course of the election with just days to go. It appears that Hurricane Sandy is indeed that last minute surprise.
President Obama has had to put aside campaigning in the final days of the election. His campaign canceled several events to monitor the development and response to Sandy.
The president canceled an appearance with former President Bill Clinton.
"Due to deteriorating weather in the Washington area, the President will no longer attend today's campaign event in Orlando," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.
Obama for America spokesperson Marianne P. von Nordeck said the campaign is "closely monitoring the storm and will take all necessary precautions."
"Where it's safe to do so, our historic grassroots organization is running at full speed in Eastern battleground states to persuade undecided voters and get our supporters out to the polls between now and Election Day," von Nordeck said.
Obama also cancelled a trip to Ohio, Colorado and Green Bay, Wis. scheduled for Tuesday, in order to stay in Washington and monitor Sandy.
GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney's campaign is operating at full speed as Romney prepared to stop in in Avon Lake, Ohio; Davenport, Iowa; and West Allis, Wis.
"I know that right now some people in the country are a little nervous about a storm about to hit the coast," Romney said at an Ohio rally on Sunday. "And our thoughts and prayers are with the people who will find themselves in harm's way."
In the final push before the election, both campaigns planned to appeal to voters to get them out to vote early, but Sandy has grounded those plans.
Both campaigns suspended fundraising emails on Monday to New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
In Washington, early voting is suspended.
In Maryland, Gov. Martin O'Malley has canceled Monday's early voting.
In Virginia, 13 voter registration offices were closed on Monday.
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